Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-03-09
A VETERAN LAWYER.
The Illness Of Mr.. Joseph HI. Bradley
A Sketch Of His Life.

Mr.. Joseph II. Bradley condition was not so
favorable this morning, as he passed an uncom-
Portable night. He was week that he fell to the
floor while attempting to walk.
Mr.. Bradley was born March ed 1903 on New
York avenue, above 18th street. and was the son
Of Hon. Abraham Bradley, of Connecticut. who
was the First Assistant Postmaster General under
the early administrations from Washington down
to that of Gen. Jackson who removed him in 1929.
After preliminary education in the schools OF
this city, he was at an early age sent 60 Yale COL
lege, where he graduated in the class OF 1921 Re-
turning to this city, he was employed for three
years from 1891 to 1924 in the Office of the clerk
OF the supreme Court OF the United States under
MT. Caldwell: At the same time he studied law
with Mr.. CALDWELL and subsequently with the
late Richard L. Coke. BE was admitted to the
bar OF Montgomery county, Md, at Rockville, in
November, 1924. MI. Bradley has often had a
hearty laugh over the manner in which he was
admitted. Presenting himself to the Judges, he
was told to meet them at the hotel, and did so.
The chief justice then asked under whom he had
studied, and receiving his answer said that they
ought to know he was qualified.
The chief justice then asked: "Can you carve
the turkey?" TO which Mr.. Bradley answered
The chief justice, placing the knife and fork In
the aSpirant'S hands, pointed to the turkey on
which they were about to dine, and Mr. Bradley,
who was master hand, soon had it neatly carved.
The chief justice then said: "YOung man, we will
| admit YOU" and that was all there was oft.
MI. Bradley was admitted to the bar OF this Dis
same year he married Miss Lucy sherman Tuttle
OF New Haven, Conn. BY this marriage there
were nve Children, but two OF whom, Mr.. A Thomas
Bradley and Mrs. Rev. DR.. Williams, Of Baltimore
are living, with nine grandchildren. About four
years ago Mr. Bradley married as his second wife
Miss Mary Harris, whom he defended on charge
OF murder In 1865, securing her acquitual. Mr.
Bradley was then quite a venerable man. and the
marriage, with the romantic circumstances at
tending Ii, created something OF social sensa-
ton.
Mr.. Bradley, on entering the legal profession,
almost Immediately stepped to the front rank, his
commanding presence, fluent tongue and we'll
stored Drain making him always formidable an
tagonist. 1t was not long before he was regarded
as one or the most brilliant men at the bar par
tlcularly In criminal cases. AS early as 1881 he
was the attorney for the Old corporation OF Wash
1ngtOn, and served in that Office for over quarter
| OF century under Mayors Gales, Weightman
Seaton and others. The only other public Office he
held was that OF notary public.
lie was LOT years an ardent WING, great admit
! rer OF Webster and Clay, and he presided at many
OF the wing mass meetings here and attended sew
eral OF the national conventions OF the party as
delegate from this District. He was in Olden times
Inc chle1 marshal OF many or the professions, and
held that position on the occasion OF the laying Of
the cornerstone OF the Washington monument.
He was also for many years a member OF the
washington Monument society. He was one Of
the tncOrpOratOrS OF the Franklin Insurance COM
| pany, and also OF the National Bank OF the Re-
public.
| He had in his day the conduct of many Of the
leading cases in the District and it Is said that in
no case OF homicide in which he appeared for the
deIendant was there ever d conviction Of murder
He was counsel in the celebrated Gardiner case in
lne case or JOhh ii. Surratt for conspiracy in the
Lincoln assassination plot, in the celebrated Wylie-
Brown case, and 1t may be said that prior to the
war he was In all the important cases. Among
| those who studied law with Mr.. Bradley was the
late John E. Norris and many others who are now
at the bar